Dental appliance



D. W. BARROW.

DENTAL APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1919.

1,338,415. Patented Apr. 27,1920.

WITNESSES IN [/5 N TOR wmw; I

ATTORNEYS DAVID WILLIAM BARBJOW, 'OF 'CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

DENTAL APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27., 1920.

Application filediSep'tember 3, 1919; Serial No. 321,376.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LDAVI WILLIAM BAR- ROW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented ce'rtain new and useful Improvements in Dental Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in dental appliances, and has for its object to provide an appliance of the characterspecified, intended to replace the wax bite used by dentists in obtaining occlusion for artificial teeth, which will permit true occlusion to be obtained, taking account both of the direct movement of the jaws toward each other and of the gliding movement of the lower jaw with respect to the upper.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view through the mouth showing the device in use,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lower plate,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the upper plate.

In the usual method of obtaining occlusion two bases are constructed, one for the upper, and one for the lower jaw, the said bases being composed of molding compound. Soft wax is placed on the upper base and the two are inserted in the mouth. .The patient is then instructed to close the mouth, biting the lower base into the soft wax on the upper base. This methoddepends upon the patient closing the mouth correctly, since the indentation of the one in the soft'wax on the other admits of no adjustment.

In the present embodiment of the inven tion, the soft wax is dispensed with, mechanism being arranged between the bases for properly holding them in position of occlusion to permit the insertion of plaster Paris. As shown, the upper base 1 and the lower base 2 are properly shaped to fit the gums indicated at 3 and 4, respectively, and a plate 5 of metal is arranged on the lower base, extending across from one side to the other, and forming a support spaced apart from the floor of the mouth.

This plate is shaped to fit the base, being curved as shown at 6 near its curved edge to fit upon the base, and the central portion is thus offset downwardly from the top of the curve. A second plate 7' is arranged on the upper base, the said plate fitting the undersurface of the base closely. This shown at 11 to engage beneath the head of the screw, and at the forward edge of the plate'7'.,the latch is engaged on either side by struck up lugs 12'which prevent downward movement thereof. The latch is out away at each side intermediate its ends as indicated at 13 for a purpose to be described, and at its outer end ithas a downwardly bent portion 14 forming a finger-hold. A pair of arched springs 15 of resilient wire is connected with the plate 7, the said springs being journaled in bearings 16 on the underface of the plate, and each spring has an extension'liat its forward end extending rearwardly as shown, and forming a catch for engagement "by the latch to hold the springs down against the plate. 'These extensions 17 are angular as shown, consisting of two portions extendingyat an acute angle and the apex is adapted to engage beneath the latch as indicated in Fig.2, to hold the arched springs l5down near the surface of the plate.

It will be obvious that when the latch .is moved inward, so that the notches .13 register with the apices of the extensions,the said extensions will be released, and the springs 15 maybe swung upward to engage the plate 5 In operation, the bases with the plates and 7 in place, and with the plate 5 filled with plaster Paris, and with the springs in the position of Fig. '2,vare placed in the mouth. The plate '5 is brought to bear against'the post 9, and'the jaw is adjustable to its relative position. The latch is now pushed inwardly, releasing the springs, which immediately embed themselves in the soft plaster and engage the plate 5. When the plaster becomes hard, the occlusion is complete. The post 9 forms the bearing for both plates, and it is made adjustable so as to regulate the space required between the jaws. The springs with the plaster form a locking device for the two plates 5 and 7.

I claim 1. A device of the character specified, comprising in combination with the upper and lower bases, of plates adapted to extend across the bases and having grooves at their edges for receiving the bases, a post adjustspiings ably connected with the upper plate at the center thereof and upon which the lower plate pivots at its center, said plates being adapted to receive between them plaster Paris for the purpose specified, and a pair of arched springs connected with the upper plate and adapted to engage the lower plate to hold said plates in proper relative position, a latch slidable on the upper plate, the

springs and the latch having interengaging means for holding the springs in inoperative position, said means comprising extensions on the spring engaging beneath the latch, and the latch having notches for permitting the passage of the extensions when said notches and extensions are in register.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising in combination with the upper andlower bases, of plates adapted to extend across the bases and having grooves at their edges for receiving the bases, a post adjustably connected with the upper plate at the center thereof and upon which the lower plate pivots at its center, said plates being adapted to receive between them plaster Paris for the purpose specified, and a pair of arched springs connected with the upper plate and adapted to engagethe lower plate to hold said plates in proper relative position, a latch slidable on the upper plate, the springs and the latch having interengaging means for holding the springs in inoperative osition.

3. device of the character specified, comprising in combination with the upper and lower bases, of plates adapted to extend across the bases and having grooves at their edges for receiving the bases, a post adjustably connected with the upper plate at the center thereof and upon which the lower plate pivots at its center, said plates being adapted to receive between them plaster Paris for the purpose specified, and a pair of arched springs connected with the upper plate and adapted to engage the lower plate to hold said plates in proper relative position, and releasable means for holding the in inoperative position.

device of the character specified,

comprising in combination with the upper and lower bases, of plates adapted to extend across the bases and having grooves at their edges for receiving the bases, a post adjustably connected with the upper plate at the center thereof and upon which the lower plate pivots at its center, said plates being adapted to receive between them plaster Paris for the purpose specified.

5. A device of the character specified, comprising an upper and lower plate adapted to extend across the mouth and fit upon upper and lower bases, springs connected with the upper plate for engaging the lower plate to hold the plates in properly spaced relation, said springs being mounted to swing into and out of operative position, and, releasable means for holding the springs in inoperative position.

6. A device of the character specified comprising upper and lower plates adapted to extend across the mouth and fit upon upper and lower bases, a post adjiistably connected with one of the plates near the center thereof and upon which the other plate pivots to permit the plates to conform to the mouth, springs held on one plate and adapted to engage the other when in operative position,

and releasable means for holding said springs in inoperative position.-

7. A device ofthe character specified comprising upper and lower plates adapted to extend across the mouth and fit upon upper and lower bases, a post adj ustably connected with one of the plates near the center thereof and upon which the other plate pivots to permit the plates to conform to the mouth, and springs between the plates on opposite sides of the post.

8. A device of the character specified comprising upper and lower plates adapted to extend across the mouth and fit upon" upper and lower bases, and a post adjustably connected with one of the plates near the center thereof and upon which the other plate pivots to permit the plates to conform to the mouth DAVID WILLIAM BARROW. 

